'ANTM' alum Allison Harvard schools the 'Meg' girls

MANILA, Philippines - Allison Harvard, the wide-eyed wünderkind from America’s Next Top Model cycle 12 and America’s Next Top Model All-Stars, returned to Manila a couple of weeks ago to walk down the runway of the highly-anticipated Bench Universe fashion show. However, she also appeared in last Saturday’s episode for I Am Meg: Own the World in Style where the contestants on the show got to meet her after winning a mini-challenge.

YStyle got to sit down with the popular ANTM fan favorite and talked to her about post-reality television success, her other projects outside of modeling and what it’s like to be a “prize.”

YSTYLE: Welcome back! How is your second visit to the Philippines compared to your first one?

ALLISON HARVARD: This time around, there’s just different things that are going on. For instance, we had that Bench Universe thing this time around and that was way more of a big production than when I was last here. Just different things that are happening, but you know, both times were amazing.

Where else have you been to visit?

I’m really into traveling lately and I’m just trying to enjoy my life. I went to Dubai, which was so awesome. One day I was just like, “Uh, I think I’m gonna go to Dubai.” And I went and stayed with Michael Cinco, actually. I just hung out with him and we went sightseeing, we saw the Burj Khalifa, Mall of Dubai, it was amazing. We had so much fun and he is, literally, like the nicest person I’ve met. He is so funny. And I was also fortunate enough to also work while I was there, so my whole trip was paid for, so it was kind of amazing. It was really awesome.

How was it walking for the Bench Universe fashion show?

Allison Harvard, Meg managing editor Grace Libero and associate publisher Dazz Ng

It was really insane. I remember we ran through rehearsals and things like that and it was really funny because when it was actually the real show, there was, like, fire! And I was like, “What is happening right now?” Because we hadn’t seen the special effects or whatever and things were blowing up in front of the stage and I was like, “What is going on?” But it was really awesome and the difference between a runway show like that and a more intimate one, a regular show, is you can just feel everyone’s energy. They all want you to do well, they’re all excited to be there, so it’s like, you feel really comfortable being out there.

During ANTM cycle 12, you admitted that runway is an opportunity for you to have a nervous breakdown. Did you feel that at all during the show?

I think there isn’t an option when you’re walking, like you just have to get over it. You’re not really given a choice and you’re distracted by so many other things, which is nice. And again, that was the whole thing with really feeling comfortable, like with the crowd and the people. They’re all there to enjoy themselves and they all want the best for you, so it’s just like, that level of comfort is just really awesome and I had a really, really great time.

Do you have any other Bench endorsements coming up?

I would love to come back for Bench. I’m not sure exactly what’s going on with that, but we’re definitely working on a few projects that will be out really soon.

How different is modeling in ANTM from modeling in the real world?

Allison with I Am Meg girls Julz Savard, Bella Prieto, Sarah Spooner and A.A. Alipio

It is a lot different. You know, you’re on a television show when you’re on Top Model and it’s a little more campy. You know, there are a lot of unrealistic situations. It’s not quite so much real life, so I definitely prefer to work outside of TV show modeling. It’s much more comfortable, people are much more able to work with you and it’s just much better, much more professional.

There were a few ANTM girls who said that appearing on the show hurt their chances of success and that some agencies have asked them to change their names or move to Europe where few people have seen the show.

I mean, I’m very lucky. I’ve been around on the Internet for a long time. (Laughs) (Editor’s Note: Allison first started posting photographs of herself when she was 14 on websites like MySpace and deviantArt. At 16, she became known as the Internet meme “Creepy Chan” or “Creepy little friend.”) This isn’t my first break! Yeah, I definitely had that platform for a while and I’ve had other things that I’ve been working on that I post or that I blog about that aren’t model-related, too. So it’s like a couple different worlds that are kind of being married, online forums and things like that, so that’s fortunate for me. It’s definitely a double-edged sword being on the show. You have people who like it and people who don’t like it. You just find your clientele, you find your people that you’re happy to work with that want the best for you and you kind of just move with that.

What do you say about critics who comment that none of the ANTM winners have reached the same level of modeling success as Tyra has?

 (Laughs) Um, you know what? People are gonna say things. They’re always gonna say things. They’re gonna say the nicest things and they’re gonna say the weirdest things and most horrible things. It’s just, like, who cares? I mean, just have fun and just enjoy yourself and do whatever fits you best because at the end of the day, you have to be happy with it. And it sounds so cheesy, but it’s so true: I mean, everybody has something to say, but just focus on what you think.

Tell us about your work as an artist. Who are your favorite artists?

I love Gustav Klimt. As far as photographers go, I love Helmut Newton so much. He is one of my favorite photographers, plus Francesca Woodman, Yvonne Todd — absolutely. I love watercolor, I love charcoal, I love to use oil and watercolor, which is typically like a strange mix. And I love people. I draw mostly women, also. I think women are so beautiful and I really love different parts of their faces. I love to mix different people, as well or people from dreams or creatures! I’m constantly creating new creatures, so yeah. I like to blend realism with fantasy, almost. I love photography. I’m always building little sets and things and props, and so I really like to work in that realm more so.

So what are you going to tell the girls from I Am Meg when you meet them?

Honestly, I don’t know what to tell them! They just, like, put me in a van and brought me here! I kind of have an idea, like they won a challenge or something and they get to come and meet me, which is really funny already. Like, “I’m a prize?” That’s really funny to me. But, yeah, I’m really looking forward to learning about what they had to do and just meeting people. It’s always really flattering to be put in that position.

But what kind of advice would you give them, since you were on ANTM?

 (Laughs) Did you see me on that show? And you want me to be giving advice?

But you were on it twice!

Exactly! Exactly, it didn’t work out the first time, so round two! (Laughs) I’m actually looking forward to what they have to say and then I’ll kind of bounce off of that. I applaud them for being in that position already. It’s definitely difficult. You have to look at yourself constantly and look at your faults and look at your flaws and it’s kind of amplified on a show like that, so it’s brave already to be in that position, so just try and be positive.

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View Allison Harvard’s art on allisonelizabeth.com and follow her on Twitter, @AllieHarvard.

I Am Meg: Own the World in Style airs every Saturday at 7 p.m. with replays on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. on the ETC channel.